That was good news to wake up to. I was too tired to stay awake to follow the live scores.

I wasn't going to stay up as I had an early start etc today - but found it quite compelling. I was watching the USTA livestream with the commentary of Mike C.

I knew nothing about Challengers or Futures until quite recently, but have to say it looks like really hard work to get rankings up - 3 qualifying rounds for some tournaments, with no points for early qualifying rounds. Dan Evans was a hero at the US Open a few weeks ago - yesterday the commentator explained that as they were using 4 courts they didn't have base line judges, and some extra ball kids arrived once school had finished! Quite a difference.

Mike C knows his players well, but was also grateful for some help from Brit fans via twitter: Dan's new kit is because he has a new sponsor; Evo is pronounced Evo (like Evans) rather than Eevo

Well done to Dan Cox, knocking out the 1st seed Denis Kudla WR95 in Sacramento Challenger 7-5 6-0. Horrible game at 5-5 with DFs etc, but he held on, and won the next seven!

Nice to see Evo watching at one point, amongst other Brit supporters. He'll play tomorrow presumably

Don't know much about Dan C but he's made his way up to GB no 4. MH will know more I expect! The live feed and commentary is great from these US challengers

Allan will probably know more, but he hasn't been around in ages.

All I know of DanC is that he, like DanE, was a really promising player in his teens but has struggled to kick on from his career high in the 250s at 20. Had injury problems in 2012 and was down at #618 as recently as April. Since then he's won 5 Futures (as well as 3 finals in the year and a semi-final), shooting up to the top 300. Has stepped back up to Challengers in the last couple of weeks and made R2 last week in Napa before getting thrashed by 2nd seed Smyczek.

Haven't seen him play much but he's tiny for a tennis player, at about 5'7. Despite that he does possess a pretty decent serve, but can sometimes struggle with consistency. Been playing some great aggressive tennis lately.

The other very talented Brit (besides Evans and Edmund) is Marcus Willis. He's struggled with funding/motivation in past few years but has got some backing by A1 Pharmaceuticals this year (who's owner is massively up his own arse - recently registered on BritishTennis forums), has improved his attitude and his fitness and has shot up the rankings to the top 400 this year. Is very (naturally) heavily built and perhaps a bit overweight, but is naturally very talented. If he continues to work on his fitness (which he seems very keen to do) we could see another Evans-esque rise up the rankings.

There's a pic of Willis and alongside Cox after a recent futures final and you can really see the different in body shape.

The other very talented Brit (besides Evans and Edmund) is Marcus Willis. He's struggled with funding/motivation in past few years but has got some backing by A1 Pharmaceuticals this year (who's owner is massively up his own arse - recently registered on BritishTennis forums), has improved his attitude and his fitness and has shot up the rankings to the top 400 this year. Is very (naturally) heavily built and perhaps a bit overweight, but is naturally very talented. If he continues to work on his fitness (which he seems very keen to do) we could see another Evans-esque rise up the rankings.

There's a pic of Willis and alongside Cox after a recent futures final and you can really see the different in body shape.

Dave Rice has then today gone to beat Crepaldi WR 515 (who upset the top seed Smyczek in R1) to make his first Challenger QF. Corrie unfortunately lost, whilst Smethurst and Milton are both currently playing their R2s.